(no subject)

[tori-dobbs.livejournal.com]

Comments

[dwer.livejournal.com]

and what for-profit companies have been in business for 250 years? I mean, seriously.

[dr-pepper-spray.livejournal.com]

Also, the Usps is becoming less and less needed. People are sending fewer letters and their non-government competitors have reasonable prices. The postal service also takes no tax money, and was a great album a few years back :]

[dwer.livejournal.com]

the post office is a HUGE success story for government.

[debergerac.livejournal.com]

it has a monopoly on first-class mail. and has been heavily subsidized

[dr-pepper-spray.livejournal.com]

Through price or by law?

[debergerac.livejournal.com]

by law.

[dr-pepper-spray.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Knowing zip about the implications, I'd be all for lifting that ban.

[dr-pepper-spray.livejournal.com]

If what you're saying is true, then Obama's point is made. The private competitors are so able to compete they're beating the government option even though it's playing with a handicap. If there wasn't a regulated option then the private companies could do what they want, how they want it regardless of those who could afford it. Capitalism that eventually chokes Democracy. So i'm sold. Public option. Lets do this.

[deadpansev.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, the post office was a huge success after they used the power of government to force out their early competition, has used eminent domain to obtain its properties and has been subsidized in lots of other ways over the years:

Early competitor forced out of business:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Letter_Mail_Company

A transcription of a 1996 plea to privatize the post office, complete with a graph that shows the billion in subsidies the government gave the post office in the 1980's:
http://www.cato.org/testimony/ct-eh043096.html

I am sorry but if this is your idea of a "great success", a company that cannot compete and needs billion in subsidies to survive, what is your idea of a failure?

In case you don't believe me about the post office using the power of eminent domain (forcing people to sell or outright stealing peoples property), maybe you would believe the supreme courts ruling in POSTAL SERVICE V. FLAMINGO INDUSTRIES:

Under the PRA, the Postal Service retains its monopoly over the carriage of letters, and the power to authorize postal inspectors to search for, seize, and forfeit mail matter transported in violation of the monopoly. See §§601—606. It also retains the obligation to provide universal service to all parts of the country. §§101, 403. The Postal Service has the power of eminent domain, the power to make postal regulations, and the power to enter international postal agreements subject to the supervision of the Secretary of State.

[dr-pepper-spray.livejournal.com]

..and yet with all that help UPS and fed ex are able to survive and prosper.

[deadpansev.livejournal.com]

Fixed it for you:

..and yet without help UPS and fed ex are able to survive and prosper. So it is ridiculous that the USPS cannot.

[dr-pepper-spray.livejournal.com]

Yes, but the argument is that a public option will not kill private insurance, but it might lower costs across the board by existing.

[i.livejournal.com]

keep tightening that clamp, fester.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

I never said it was a company. I said it was a successful government agency. I'm sure the DoD forced out private mercenary companies early on too.

Still. 250 years of consistent operation, even when it had to compete with UPS and FedEx and DHL. Consistently paid a good wage to people. Provided benefits. All good.

Failure? Enron. Enron would be a failure.

[deadpansev.livejournal.com]

Enron wouldn't have failed either if they had gotten bailed out as many times as the USPS.

[blueduck37.livejournal.com]

[pacotelic.livejournal.com]

Some newspapers, a few banks. Mostly universities.

[debergerac.livejournal.com]

the postal service is revenue neutral.

[cai-penquin.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with that? It's not for profit, so it doesn't need profits to satisfy investors...

[debergerac.livejournal.com]

dwer said it was a moneymaking operation.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

you're going to link to a list of companies where the oldest five are from Japan, which is just about the king of government support for companies? Jesus christ.

The cato institute doesn't burn. It sucks.

[dwer.livejournal.com]

I dunno. Your right-tard friends aren't going to like you for supporting a list that has so many successful European corporations. They're all socialist, you know. just like Hitler.